Protected ablation method and apparatus
First Claim
1. A surgical tissue protection device comprising:
- an elongated body having a distal end adapted to insertion into an anatomical cavity and a proximal end adapted to manipulation from outside of the anatomical cavity; and
a cupping element disposed on said distal end and being sized and adapted to substantially envelope anatomical tissue inside the anatomical cavity, the cupping element operative to move to and between a closed state and an opened state, wherein, in the closed state, the distal end of the elongated body is inserted into the anatomical cavity and, in the opened state, the cupping element in the anatomical cavity receives the anatomical tissue so that the cupping element can move towards the closed state to substantially envelope the anatomical tissue.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for protected ablation of anatomical tissue. A protective cap is disposed around tissue within an anatomical cavity by an endoscopic device or through open surgery techniques. The tissue can then be subject to ablation at high energy for a relatively long period of time, if necessary to ablate the tissue, without damaging surrounding organs or other tissue. The protective cap can be inserted endoscopically in a closed position in which it is compact radially and can be opened after being inserted into the body cavity to be placed around the tissue. The protective cap can be a thermal insulator, an electrical insulator, merely a physical pad to protect surrounding tissue, or of any desired characteristic for protection.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A surgical tissue protection device comprising:
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an elongated body having a distal end adapted to insertion into an anatomical cavity and a proximal end adapted to manipulation from outside of the anatomical cavity; and a cupping element disposed on said distal end and being sized and adapted to substantially envelope anatomical tissue inside the anatomical cavity, the cupping element operative to move to and between a closed state and an opened state, wherein, in the closed state, the distal end of the elongated body is inserted into the anatomical cavity and, in the opened state, the cupping element in the anatomical cavity receives the anatomical tissue so that the cupping element can move towards the closed state to substantially envelope the anatomical tissue. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A surgical tissue protection device comprising:
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an elongated body having a distal end adapted to insertion into an anatomical cavity and a proximal end adapted to manipulation from outside of the anatomical cavity, said elongated body comprising a tubular inner member disposed at least partly in a tubular outer member, said outer member being slidable with respect to said inner member; a plurality of protective members disposed on said distal end and being adapted to substantially cover anatomical tissue inside the anatomical cavity, each of said protective members comprising a protective cover disposed on at least one flexible arm extending from a distal end of said inner member; and means for causing relative sliding movement of said outer member with respect to said inner member, movement of said outer member distally over said inner member causing said at least one flexible arm to move toward a central longitudinal axis of said device to permit said protective members to move between an open position, wherein said protective members extend beyond radial dimensions of said outer member, and a closed position, wherein said insulating members are contained essentially within the radial dimensions of said outer member. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A surgical ablation device comprising:
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means for transmitting ablation energy to or from anatomical tissue; an elongated body having a distal end adapted to insertion into an anatomical cavity and a proximal end adapted to manipulation from outside the anatomical cavity; and a cupping element disposed on said distal end and being sized and adapted to substantially envelope a surface of the anatomical tissue, the cupping element operative to move to and between a closed state and an opened state, wherein, in the closed state, the distal end of the elongated body is inserted into the anatomical cavity and, in the opened state, the cupping element in the anatomical cavity receives the anatomical tissue so that the cupping element can move towards the closed state to substantially envelope the anatomical tissue. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A protective device for internal anatomical tissue disposed within an anatomical cavity comprising:
at least one cupping element adapted to be disposed around the internal anatomical tissue, the cupping element operative to move to and between a closed state and an opened state, wherein, in the closed state, the cupping element can be inserted into the anatomical cavity and, in the opened state, the cupping element in the anatomical cavity receives the anatomical tissue so that the cupping element can move towards the closed state to substantially envelope the anatomical tissue.
Specification